Air controlled lock for dispensers



April 18, 1933. P. s. SHIELD ET AL 1,904,550

AIR CONTROLLED LOCK FOR DISPENSERS Filed Jan. 10, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 nomzy April 18, 1933.

P. s. SHIELD ET AL 1,904,550

Filed Jan. 10 1950 r 6? IN NTORs -85 5 AEORNEY April 18, 1933.

P. s. SHIELD El AL 1,904,550

AIR CONTROLLED LOCK FOR DISPENSERS Failed Jan. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I PAUL S. SHIELD, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND WALTER H. HAUPT, OF LUDLOW,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNORS TO AUGUSTINE DAVIS, JR., CINCINNATI, OI-IIO AIR CONTROLLED LOOK FOR DISPENSERS Application filed. January 10, 1930. Serial No. 419,802.

The invention relates to liquid dispensers of that type having a pair of measuring chambers, with means for supplying liquid thereto and means for conducting the measured quantities therefrom, together with automatic valve mechanism, for causing'each chamber to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and vice-versa. The reversal of the valve mechanism may be, and preferably is, brought about by pressure developing on the liquid when each measuring chamber becomes full and its vent is closed.

The object of the present improvement is to provide a positive and reliable means for preventing overlapping in the operation of such dispensers. By overlapping is meant a condition of premature reversal of the valve mechanism, the eifect of which, whenever it may occur, is to trap off some portion of a measured quantity to which a customer is entitled, by closing off a chamber from the outlet of the dispenser before such chamber has entirely emptied its con tents. To this end we provide a lock which coacts with the valve mechanism to oppose and prevent premature reversal of the valve, this look being controlled indirectly through instrumentalities from a float or its equiva-' lent which is subject to the outflowing liquid. lVhile the invention is not limited to the specific character of the connections between the float and the lock, it contemplates more especially a relay system for operating the lock, the only duty of the float being to control the relay system. A relay device operated by fluid or fluid pressure is particularly advantageous, such device being controlled by a valve which can be easily operated by the float.

In the preferred application and embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the combination includes a four-way valve, or reversing valve, to connect the two measuring chambers simulataneously, and each in turn, with the supply and discharge conduits, and actuating means comprising a piston or its equivalent to be acted on by pressure developing in each measuring chamber when the chamber is filled and its vent is closed, and an actuating device in which power is stored by the piston and which then acts to throw the valve, and the lock pref crably coacts with the actuating means rather than with the valve.

In the accompanying'drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view, principally in vertical section, illustrating the invention, mechanisms which would lie one behind another being shown side by side, and shafts on which a plurality of parts are mounted being projected by broken lines; Fig. 2 is an elevation on a larger scale of the locking and unlocking mechanism, showing certain parts in two positions in full and broken lines, respectively; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the locking mechanism unlocked and in the condition at the mid point of a stroke, broken lines being used to indicate positions of certain of the partsat an end point of a stroke; Fig. tis a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a float valve device associated with the discharge conduit; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4:.

The apparatus has twin measuring cham bers 2 and 2 mounted on a suitable frame or casting 3 containing passages and piston chambers. In'actual practice this casting is supported on a' suitable pedestal or casing, which it has not been thought necessary to illustrate and which contains or supports a pump 4, a master valve 5, and a supply conduit 6 leading from the underground reservoir to the pump, thence to the valve 5, and thence to automatic valve mechanism in the casting 3 which controls the flow of liquid so that one chamber 2 empties while the other is being filled, and vice-versa. This last portion of the supplyconduit divides into two branches 7 and 7 The automatic valve mechanism prefer ably includes a double piston valve 8 operating in cylinder chambers 9 and 9 The branches 7 of the conduit 6 open into the outer ends of these chambers, and theheads 10 and 10 of the valves are adapted to travel past ports 11 and 11 which communicate with passages 12 and 12 in the casting 3, these passages or spaces extending downward from the bottoms of the measuring chambers 2. A delivery conduit 13 leads from a space 14 located between the piston. valve chambers 9 and forming part of the same general cavity therewith. A delivery hose 13 is connected with the outer portion of this conduit. 7

The arrangement is such that the valve 8 reciprocates between extreme positions, in one of which the head 10 cuts off the port 11 from the branch 7 of the supply conduit and places said port in communication with the delivery conduit 13, while at the same time the head 1O cuts off the port 11 from the delivery conduit and places that port in communication with the branch 7 of the supply conduit.

In the other position of the valve 8, these conditions are reversed.

A double-ended pressure-actuated piston 14 operates in a cylinder chamber 15 which extends between and in communication with the spaces 12 and 12. Arocker-arm 16 operatively connects this piston with a rockshaft 17 Another rocker-arm 18 operative- 1y connects the four-way reversing valve 8 with a'rock-shaft 19.

A quick-throw mechanism 20 is interposed between the rock-shafts 17 and 19. This mechanism may comprise a rocker-arm 21 fixed to the rock-shaft 17 and having articulated connection with a telescopic link '22 containing a compression spring 23, the link 22 being pivotally connected with the lower end of a link 24, which, in turn, is freely pivoted at its upper end on the rockshaft 17. The links 22 and 24 are loosely connected at their lower ends with a rocker-arm 25 which is fixed to the rock-shaft 19. Spaced abutments 26 cooperate with the arm 21. r

The measuring chambers 2 and 2Phave vents 27 and 27 at the top, each adapted to be closed when its chamber is filled with liquid, by a float valve 28 or 28 A conduit 29 may connect the float chambers 30 and 30 When the master vmve 5 is open, operation of the pump 4 will supply liquid to the measuring chamber 2 (assuming the parts to be in the position of Fig. 1), until that chamber is filled and its vent valve 28 is automatically closed. The operator or customer continues to pump, and the pressure on the liquid which then develops in the chamber 2 and its connected spaces'12 and 9 acts on the right-hand end of the piston 14 so as to move the latter to the left. This movement rocks the shaft 17 and straightens the links 21 and 22, compressing the spring 23. As soon as these links are carried past their line of centers, the spring 23 quickly throws the toggle to a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 1, thereby throwing the link 24 to the right. This in turn quickly shifts the reversin valve 8 to its other extreme position, WfiiBIBllPOIl the measured quantity of liquid flows out of the chamber 2 and its passage space 12 to and through the delivery conduit 13, while liquid from the pump proceeds to enter the measuring chamber 2. V

This cycle of operations is repeated until the master valve 5 is closed, preventing any more liquid being supplied to the measuring chambers and the automatic valve mechanism.

It will be understood that the capacity of each measuring chamber is inclusive of its passage space 12 or 12 This capacity may be one gallon, for example, or any other suitable predetermined volume.

The master valve 5 is controlled by a predeterminer 31. Such predeterminers are known, and since the predeterminer forms no part of the present invention it will be sufiicient to say that, before making a delivery, the disc is turned a distancecorresponding to the amount of liquidto be de livered, and as the dispenser operates it moves automatically until, at the completion of the desired delivery, the notch in the disc permits the valve to close. Y

The type of dispensing meter illustrated is known, a similar meterbeing disclosed in the Carbonaro Patent 1,612,488, dated December 28, 1926. Consequently, the present invention does not reside in the particular construction of the meter andthe automatic mechanism which has been described.

A feature whichhas been introduced into this type of dispenser by others before us comprises a means for supplying air pressure to the measuring chambers. This is illustrated by an air pump 32 connected so as to be operated in conjunction with the operation of the liquid pump 4, and a line 33 extending from the pressure side of the air pump to the pipe 29. Another feature heretofore provided is a spring-loaded relief valve 34 connected with the conduit 6 between the pump 4 and the dispenser, with a return line 35 from this valve to the reservoir (not shown). 1

In the application of our present invention we preferably retain the feature of sup plying air pressure to the measuring chambers in order to hasten the emptying of each chamber and to cause it to empty faster than the other chamber fills. However, this feature need not necessarily be employed, since the lock of our present invention will prevent premature operation of the valve mechanism whether air is supplied to the measuring chambers or not. We now provide means responsive to presence or absence of liquid in a region of the discharge conduit which will prevent the dispenser lock from being unlocked until after each measured quantity has passed that region. Consequently spacing of the measured quantitles as they proceed from the chambers is insured and all possibility of overlapping is positively prevented.

This new invention may be embodied in numerous forms and consequently the arrangement which will be described is to be understood as being purely illustrative.

On a convenient portion of the rock-shaft 17 there is an arm 36. This arm is connected by a link 37 with a lever 38, which is pivoted intermediate its ends, at 39, on a suitable frame 40. The relations of the elements of the linkage are such that the lever 38 executes a double stroke, to and fro, for each single stroke of the piston 14, and consequently for each single stroke or reversal of the valve 8.

The lower end of the lever 38 is pivoted at 41 to a link 42, this link being pivoted in turn, at 43, to a link 44, which latter link is pivoted at to the fixed frame. The links 42 and 44 constitute a toggle. This toggle is an advantageous form of locking device, which is claimed specifically, but other forms of locking mechanism may be employed.

The links of the toggle are connected by a spring 65, which will tend to hold the toggle flexed at either side of the line of centers to which it may be moved. When the toggle is flexed slightly to the left of the line of centers, a nose 66 on the link 44 abuts a projection 46 on the link 42. This is the locked condition, in which, obviously, the lever 38 can not be moved by the rock-shaft 17, since the first part of the movement of this shaft, either clockwise or counterclockwise, must rock the lever in a manner to flex the toggle.

A metal bellows or other pneumatic device 47 constitutes an unlocking means or agency. The invention contemplates more especially an air controlled look, but the conditions of pressure which bring about the unlocking may be either positive or negative (vacuum), and indeed, as far as the broad aspect of the invention is concerned, any means may be employed for looking or unlocking the lock as long as it is responsive to conditions in the discharge conduitor spaces of the dispenser in accordance with the spirit of this invention.

Considering the preferred construction which is illustrated, the device 47 has a stem 48 adapted to bear against a lug 49 on the link 42, so that advance of the stem due toeXp-ansion of the bellows will break or unlock the toggle 42, 44, in which condition movement of the lever 38, and consequently of the valve mechanism, can take place. The bellows is tensioned so that it is normally retracted sufiiciently to allow the toggle to assume the locked condition, which it will do under the action of the spring 65. It may be explained in this connection that the double stroke of the lever 38 first flexes the toggle to the right and then straightens the toggle, and that the momentum of the links is then suflicient to carry the toggle slightly to the left of the line of centers, whereupon the spring holds it in this locked condition with the nose 66 against the projection 46.

The device 47 is connected by an air line 50 with the seat 51 of a needle-valve chamber 52, this chamber being connected by another air line 53 with the air line 33. The needlevalve 54 is carried by a float 55 in a float chamber 56 which communicates with the discharge conduit 13 not far from the outlets ot' the measuring chambers. lVhen liquid is flowing in this part of the conduit,

the float valve is raised, thereby closing the I needle-valve against its seat and cutting off communication between the device 47- and the source of pressure, until the liquid passes, whereupon the float falls and the valve reopens the air passage.

The operation will now be described. The operator starts the liquid pump and the air pump. Liquid is pumped into one of the measuring chambers until that chamber is full and its air vent 27 or 27 is closed. Assuming the toggle 42, 44 to be locked, the pressure then developed on the liquid in the chamber can not throw the piston 14, to cause the valve 8 to be thrown, because the air pressure will be dissipated throughthe delivery conduit and hose. In order to unlock the mechanism in the first instance the operator may, therefore, momentarily close avalve 60 in the hose nozzle", thereby causing sufiicient pressure to build up to operate the device 47 and unlock the lock.

The valve 8 is now moved to reverse the condition of flow with respect to the twin measuring chambers. The gallon, or other unit, flows out of the chamber which was filled, and the empty chamber is connected with the source of liquid supply and commences to fill.

The single stroke movement of the rockshaft 17 flexed the toggle 42, 44 and straightpermitting the valve mechanism to operate again. These automatic operations are repeated until the, total amount of liquid ordered is delivered. Consequently. the

valve mechanism can not operate so as to permit any measured quantity of liquid to pass from a measuring chamber, until the preceding quantity, discharged from the other chamber, has passed on its way to the outlet. In other words, the unlocking of the valve mechanism (or valve-operating mechanism) is dependent on the existenceof a gap, or at least a diminution of liquid flow, between measured quantities as they proceed from the measuring chambers. In this way overlapping is made impossible, that is to say a part of a: measured quantity can not be trapped in either of the measuring chambers by premature automatic operation of the valve mechanism.

It might be thought that on closing of the needle valve 54 air trapped in the device 47 would keep this bellows from collapsing, with the result that the toggle 42, 44 after being flexed would not be permitted to straighten and move to the left of center to the locking position. To prevent this the device 47 or the line 50 may be providzd with a small bleed opening 61. However, even in the absence of such a bleed, the device 47 need not remain expanded, because when a measured quantity proceeds along the discharge conduit, the enlargement of the air space in the measuring chamber and in the discharge conduit, which space is in communication with the air supply, brings about a diminution of the air pressure. Therefore, by properly tensioning the wall of the bellqws 4. .7, or a spring, it is easy to insure that the device 47 will only momentarily be expanded and will collapse again practically at once notwithstanding that the needle-valve is still open.

It has been necessary for a clear understanding of the invention to describe it with reference to the illustrated embodiment, but it will now be evident that a variety of instrumentalities and agencies, not necessarily pneumatic, may be employed for controlling the locking and unlocking of the valve mechanism of a dispenser of this general type, suitable means being provided in the discharge conduit or space for controlling the locking system so that it can not be unlocked until after each measured quantity has passed a given point.

We claim 1. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a dischar e space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for-causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid-while the other is emptying, of a releasable lock outside of the discharge space for preventing operation of said reversing valve mecha nism, and means responsive to a change in the liquid insaid discharge conduit for con-. trolling said lock.

2. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automaticreversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lock for said mechanism, a device for unlocking said lock, means, for energizing said device, and a device in connection with said discharge conduit for controlling said energizing means.

In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquidwhile the other is emptying, of a lock for said mechanism, a pneumatic device associated with said lock, a valve controlling said pneumatic device, and means responsive to a change in condition in said discharge conduit whereby said valve is operated.

at. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lock for said mechanism, a pneumatic device associated with said lock, an air line connected with said device, a valve in said line,.an'd means in connection with said. dischargeconduit for operating said valve. Y

5. In a liquid dispenser, the'combination with'two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, andautomatic reversing valve mechanism forv causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lock for said mechanism, a pneumatic device associated with said lock, an air lineconnected with said device, a valve in said line, and a float operatively' connected with said valve.

In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and an air pressure system connected with said chambers, of a lock for said mechanism, a pneumatic device associated with said lock, connections between said pneumatic device and said air pressure system, a valve in said connections, and means in connection with said discharge conduit for controlling saidvalve.

7. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for'causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lock for preventing operation of said reversing valve mechanism, a device for releasing said lock, control means in connection with said discharge conduit, and an operating connection between said releasing device and the control means.

8. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a releasable lock for preventing operation of said reversing valve mechanism, a device in connection with said discharge conduit, and means whereby said device controls the release of said lock.

9. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lever connected with said valve mechanism, a lock connected with said lever, said lock consisting of two links forming a toggle, a device for breaking said toggle, and means in connection with said discharge conduit for controlling said device.

10. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lever connected with said valve mechanism, a lock connected with said lever, said lock consisting of two links forming a toggle, a spring acting on said toggle, a device for breaking said toggle, and means for automatically controlling said device.

11. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto, a discharge space or conduit, and automatic reversing valve mechanism for causing each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, of a lever connected with said valve mechanism, a lock connected with said lever, said lock consisting of two links forming a toggle, a pneumatic device for breaking said toggle, and means for automatically controlling said pneumatic device.

12. In a dispenser, the combination of twin measuring chambers, an automatic reversing valve mechanism controlling inlet to and outlet from said chambers, a lock for said mechanism comprising two links forming a toggle, an air pressure system connected with said chambers, and a pneumatic device connected with said system for breaking said toggle.

13. In a liquid dispenser, the combination discharged from the measuring chambers,

and connections through which the. release of said lock is controlled by said float.

14. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, and automatic reversing mechanism for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, of a lock for said mechanism, a devicefor operating said lock, a relay system for energizing said device, and a float in connection with the discharge conduit for control of said relay system.

15. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two imeasuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, and automatic reversing mechanism for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, of a lock for said mechanism, a fluidpressure device for operating said lock,'a float subject to liquid discharged-from the measuring chambers, and a valve operated by said float to control said fluid-pressure device.

16. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, and automatic reversing mechanism for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, of a lock for said mechanism, a fluid-pressure device for operating said lock, a passage and means for applying fluid pressure through said passage to said device, a valve controlling said passage, and a float operatively connected with said valve and itself subject to liquid discharged from the measuring chambers.

17 In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, a valve for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge c011- duits, and valveactuating means subject to pressure developed on the liquid when each chamber becomes filled, of a lock for said valve-actuating means, a float subject to liquid discharged from the chambers, and connections through which said float controls said lock.

18. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, a valve for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, a piston subject to pressure developed on the liquid when each chamber becomes filled, and a Valve-actuating device in which power is stored by said piston to throw the valve, of a lock to prevent operation of said piston and device to throw the valve, a float subject to liquid discharged from the chambers, and connections through which said float controls said lock.

19. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, a valve for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, and valve-actuating means subject-to pressure developed on the liquid when each chamber becomes filled, of a lock for said valve-actuating means, a fluid-pressure system for operating said look, a float in connection with the discharge conduit, and a valve operated by said float to control said fluid-pressure system.

20. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, supply and discharge conduits, a valve for connecting said chambers simultaneously and each in turn with the supply and discharge conduits, a piston subject to pressure developed on the liquid when each chamber becomes filled, and a valve-actuating device in which power is stored by said piston to throw the valve, of a lock to prevent operation of said piston and device to throw the valve, a fluid-pressure device for operating said lock, a valve controlling said fluid-pressure device, and means responsive to a change in condition in the discharge conduit to control said valve.

PAUL S. SHIELD. WALTER H. HAUPT. 

